AI in CAI: An Artificial-Intelligence Approach to Computer-Assisted Instruction

TLDR

Conventional CAI relies on pre‑written frames, whereas ISO CAI uses an information network to generate content and support mixed‑initiative dialogue between student and computer. The study demonstrates the feasibility and key capabilities of an AI‑based CAI system. The authors developed the SCHOLAR system, presenting its conceptual design and educational protocol.

Abstract

The main purpose of the research reported here is to show that a new and more powerful type of computer-assisted instruction (CAI), based on extensive application of artificial-intelligence (AI) techniques, is feasible, and to demonstrate some of its major capabilities. A set of computer programs was written and given the name SCHOLAR. Due to its complexity, only the conception and educational aspects of this system (including an actual on-line protocol) are presented in this paper. In what may be called conventional ad hoc-frame-oriented (AFO) CAI, the data base consists of many "frames" of specific pieces of text, questions, and anticipated answers entered in advance by the teacher. By contrast, an information-structure-oriented (ISO) CAI system is based on the utilization of an information network of facts, concepts, and procedures; it can generate text, questions, and corresponding answers. Because an ISO CAI system can also utilize its information network to answer questions formulated by the student, a mixed-initiative dialogue between student and computer is possible with questions and answers from both sides.